A judge has approved a city’s petition to rename a lake after angry residents called for the racist name to be dropped.
In a petition filed in the name of its residents, the city of Whitefish, Montana, requested for ‘Lost Coon Lake’ to be renamed into ‘Lost Loon Lake’ after people complained about the word’s racist implications, the Flathead Beacon reported.
While the word ‘coon’ is commonly used in North America to refer to raccoons, the term, similarly to the N-word, has also been historically used to insult Black people.
Following the city’s petition to have the lake’s name changed, District Judge Dan Wilson approved the request, prompting the place to be approved for an official change of its name to Lost Loon Lake.
According to the reports, it is unclear where the Montana lake got its name when it was renamed more than one hundred years ago. Before it was called the Lost Coon Lake, however, the place was allegedly named the Ni**er Lake due to an African American woman who was running a rooming house in the area.
“We literally cannot find out who requested the name change or who established the name,” Frank Sweeney of the Whitefish city council said of the controversial name back in August.
While the council worker admitted he believes there was no racist intent behind the lake’s name, some people, including tourists, have allegedly “taken huge offense” after it was suggested that the lake was previously renamed from the N-word to ‘Coon’ as a compromise.point 426 | 1
“People have taken huge offense. We’ve had several citizens, several visitors, complain to us that this information is out there,” Attorney Angela Jacobs explained.
“I guess whether it’s accurate or not, people are truly offended.”
According to the reports, the Whitefish lake will be officially renamed in January.
Replaced!